Rachel's story
My name is Rachel, I am 38 years old and I live in Oakamoor in The Staffordshire Moorlands. I attend Holbrook House, Rethink, in Cheadle as a volunteer and have done so for just over a month .
I entered the mental health scene when I was 12 years old. This started off by me being bullied at school. This had a detrimental effect on me- I lost my confidence over time and it got so bad that I refused to go into lessons and had to be physically dragged in but I would later run off and wander the school alone. When I withdrew from my lessons my schoolwork was affected and eventually I was suspended from school for two weeks until I had psychiatric help. I was seen by the psychiatrist and I had to attend hospital every week from school, the welfare officer took me. Bullying was still going on.
When I left school I was very depressed and self harmed for the first time. I was taken to hospital by a friend and then admitted to St Edwards Psychiatric Hospital – I was terrified as nothing was ever explained to me so I did not know what was going on. I was in hospital for several months. When I was released I became and out patient and my doctor was changed again. But after all this time I was still so ill that I did not know I was being helped, I was not in reality and my mind was blurred . I was soon admitted to another hospital after having a relapse and was sectioned under the mental health act (this means all your rights are taken away from you e.g I could not even go to the toilet on my own or have a bath! It was for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was even pinned down on the floor If I was the slightest bit angry or agitated and at night one of the nurses watched me all night). After many weeks in hospital and some weekends at home I was taken off my section and discharged and made homeless due to my family being too scared to take me back – I was so traumatised.
I eventually got a place at the YMCA and things did not get any better, I was still so traumatised that I tried to take my own life. I kept being admitted to hospital and discharged when I felt a bit better. This went on for many, many years and I was again sectioned twice during this time. I was supported by the local mental health team but this was not enough. I eventually moved to a Rehab unit and started to do normal things like cooking my own meals, cleaning and shopping. I was moved to a hospital nearer to my family and whilst there I was told I am suffering from Schizophrenia, by this time I was on the right medication for me and was starting to feel better.
Now I have a place of my own and have two pet cats I got from the Rescue Centre. I have been here for a year and am looking forward for the first time, to the rest of my life.
When I left school I was very depressed and self harmed for the first time. I was taken to hospital by a friend and then admitted to St Edwards Psychiatric Hospital – I was terrified as nothing was ever explained to me so I did not know what was going on. I was in hospital for several months. When I was released I became and out patient and my doctor was changed again. But after all this time I was still so ill that I did not know I was being helped, I was not in reality and my mind was blurred . I was soon admitted to another hospital after having a relapse and was sectioned under the mental health act (this means all your rights are taken away from you e.g I could not even go to the toilet on my own or have a bath! It was for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was even pinned down on the floor If I was the slightest bit angry or agitated and at night one of the nurses watched me all night). After many weeks in hospital and some weekends at home I was taken off my section and discharged and made homeless due to my family being too scared to take me back – I was so traumatised.
I eventually got a place at the YMCA and things did not get any better, I was still so traumatised that I tried to take my own life. I kept being admitted to hospital and discharged when I felt a bit better. This went on for many, many years and I was again sectioned twice during this time. I was supported by the local mental health team but this was not enough. I eventually moved to a Rehab unit and started to do normal things like cooking my own meals, cleaning and shopping. I was moved to a hospital nearer to my family and whilst there I was told I am suffering from Schizophrenia, by this time I was on the right medication for me and was starting to feel better.
Now I have a place of my own and have two pet cats I got from the Rescue Centre. I have been here for a year and am looking forward for the first time, to the rest of my life.
